Michigan

The Patriots, 49ers, and Joe Staley

This article is from two weeks ago, but is still pretty relevant. To draft CMU offensive lineman Joe Staley last April, the San Francisco 49ers traded a 2008 first-round pick to the New England Patriots for their pick, 28th overall. San Francisco knew the Baltimore Ravens wanted Staley at 29, so they had to make their move quickly. As it turns out almost a year later, the 49ers took a major step back, and had a miserable season, while the Patriots had an undefeated regular season, becoming possibly the greatest NFL team ever.

It is an awkward embarrassment of riches for the NFL's best team, by getting a top ten pick after such a great season. Its eerily similiar to the Los Angeles Lakers of the late 70's and early 80's of making trades to receive high draft picks for the rights to stars such as Magic Johnson and James Worthy, even while they were contending in the NBA's elite. Nevertheless, the 49ers wouldn't take the trade back, even if they could. Staley started all 16 games as a rookie, and has been a huge bright spot on an otherwise dismal season for the team. He will be a fixture in San Francisco for many more years to come.

December 21, USAToday "Without question," Nolan said. "What we'd do over is our record. ... Joe is a very good player. After watching the film of the other tackles in the draft, Joe is right up there."

The 49ers fell in love with Staley at last year's Senior Bowl, and he has met every expectation from his first days in minicamps. Staley unseated Kwame Harris as the 49ers' starting right tackle before the final preseason game, and he has steadily matured into perhaps San Francisco's most consistent lineman this season.

Staley's coaches expect him to be the club's starting left tackle soon - probably next season, with oft-injured Jonas Jennings's future up in the air during his latest stint on injured reserve.

Though he doesn't have the pedigree of Cleveland's Joe Thomas, or any of the attention bestowed on the No. 3 overall pick, most observers think Staley already is among the elite linemen from last season's draft - and many agree with Nolan's belief that Staley was well worth that high pick.

"I think it was a good move, too," Staley said Thursday, laughing about the scrutiny he'll face. "I feel like I've done real well comparatively to the other rookies. I felt like I did all I could do to prove the Niners made the right decision."